RENEWAL is designed to offer hope and comfort to people suffering from mental health disorders or addiction disorders, and support to the people who love them. Our approach is based on respect for the dignity of the people we serve and the belief that through a faith-based program, life-changing results are possible.

RENEWAL: Christian Treatment and Recovery is an optional treatment supplement available through Brookhaven Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At Brookhaven, we understand that when you are suffering from an eating disorder, a personality disorder, a behavioral health disorder or chemical dependency, life can seem utterly hopeless. It can cause Christians to feel abandoned and distant from God. However, by strengthening your spirituality, in conjunction with our professional medical services, you can experience results that you never thought were possible.

RENEWAL is based on the belief in:

God who created us and loves us (Genesis 1:26)
Jesus Christ who redeems us (Isaiah 53:5)
The Holy Spirit who guides us (Acts 1:8)

When you participate in RENEWAL, you’re part of something much bigger than yourself. Brookhaven clients receive expert care from our team of mental professionals. Treatment is solution-focused and success-oriented. Our goal is to minimize symptoms, help individuals address life problems and live fulfilling lives. Sometimes healing requires a helping hand. We’re here to provide the guidance and support you need to recover.

Christian Care
The RENEWAL program at Brookhaven Hospital incorporates your faith into the recovery process in order to address your physical, mental and spiritual needs

Christian Drug Rehab
Our program provides a nurturing atmosphere that allows you to sober up and strengthen your bond with God.

PTSD Treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after a traumatic event. Without getting proper help it can be debilitating. Strengthening your faith can help you confront the past and form a brighter future.

Christian Healing
When you are part of the RENEWAL program, you are part of something bigger than yourself. You are part of a support system based on professional medical care as well as spiritual guidance.

Compulsive Overeating
When you suffer from compulsive overeating disorder, your meals and your life can seem out of control. Take a faith-based approach to your eating disorder treatment at RENEWAL.

Anorexia Treatment
Anorexia is characterized by the restriction of food intake and the refusal to maintain a healthy body weight. Without getting help, anorexia can be life-threatening.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Everyone experiences ups and downs, but when you’re suffering from bipolar disorder life can seem out of control. Brookhaven’s RENEWAL program incorporates your spirituality into an advanced behavioral health program.

OCD Treatment
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can fill your life with uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) and rituals (compulsions) and stand in the way of relationships and your career.

I came across an old post on Christian Counselor Phil Monroe’s blog today that showed just how little has changed in the way the church handles serious mental illness. It is clear the church has made significant steps towards improving the understanding and treatment of more mild mental illness such as the more common forms of depression and anxiety, but that doesn’t mean all mental illness patients have felt the same gains.

Mental illness patients almost all report feeling stigmatized for their conditions, but serious mental illness (SMI) patients face even more stigma and roadblocks than your average person struggling with mental health. Bipolar and schizophrenic patients are shunned even by many who suffer from more “mild” mental illnesses such as depression, and sadly they are often treated even worse within the church.

Interestingly, SMI patients are quite prone to acknowledging spiritual or religious beliefs or identity according to Monroe, but they almost uniformly report feeling unwelcome in the church and unable to find support. Even worse, many mental health professionals are unsupportive of the faith or beliefs of SMI patients.

Schizophrenia patients face perhaps the highest hurdle. Huge sects of Christianity still view schizophrenia and the disease it is often confused with, multiple personality disorder, as outright demonic possession and nothing else. While it has become more common to see churches acknowledge the reality of depression, anxiety, and even conditions like Tourette’s, schizophrenia is still treated as a manifestation of evil, and this has to change.

Bipolar patients also face many of their unique challenges within society and the church. Bipolar disorder is almost as misunderstood as schizophrenia, and members of the church aren’t prepared to respond to a disorder they do not understand. Our first steps as a church should be looking to educate ourselves about mental health and mental illnesses of every form. We can’t properly counsel those in the most need unless we seek to understand them. We also can’t help direct them to the most relevant teachings of Christ to help them find comfort and support.

One Response to “How Can We Better Address Serious Mental Illness?”

I was diagnosed many years ago with SMI and have been to many churches over the years trying to find a place to belong and have been unsuccessful. Most recently, I have been attending a support group thru my church and was told I should not return . We were doing a book study on Search for Significance and the conversation got pretty intense and I became upset. My experience over many years have shown me that Christians are very judgmental when it comes to people with mental illness. Once again, Christians have proven to me that people with mental illness are not accepted in church. I feel like the “lepers” as described in the bible. We are the outcast of society. I am distraught over this latest incident and feel like I will never find a place to worship God and that maybe it is best to worship Him from home and not ever belong to a church. I just can’t take the rejection that I experience at church.

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